Floor with baseboard



March 4, 1969 K. GAISER 3, 3

' FLOOR WITH BASEBOARD Filed Jan. 11, 1965 Sheet of 2 figxd INVENTOR Arm: 7' 601:6!

ATTORNEY 3 March 4, 1969 K, GAISER 3,430,402

moon WITH BASEBOARD 7 Filed Jan. 11, 1965 Sheet 2 of2 INVENTOR Koer 60/3512 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,430,402 FLOOR WITH BASEBOARD Kurt Gaiser, Im Gewand Schloss 4, Stuttgart, Germany Filed Jan. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 424,757 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 17, 1964,

G 39,638; Apr. 10, 1964, G 40,326 US. Cl. 52-287 23 Claims Int. Cl. E04b 1/00, 5/00, 7/00 This invention relates to a floor with a baseboard made particularly of plastic material. Baseboards are generally made of wood. Also known, however, are plastic baseboards, which are employed in place of the wooden ones. The bottom edge of said plastic baseboards is often somewhat inwardly curved so that said edge forms a base and rests on the floor covering at a distance from the wall of approx. 1-3 cm. A"). Such baseboards, like those of the known, wooden type must be fitted once the floor covering is in place. This subsequent fitting of the baseboards causes additional work and, since it is frequently not carried out by the craftsman that laid the flooring, additional delays. Also, such baseboards as a rule must be attached to the wall by means of long steel pins so that there is always danger of water pipes or electric wires laid in the wall being damaged.

In addition, no watertight seal between the floor and the wall can be established with these known, subsequently fitted baseboards. As a result, skirting made of artificialstone or ceramic tiles had to be used in bathrooms and the like. Said tiles also were subsequently fitted to the wall, and the joint between the tile bottom edge and the floor was filled with mortar or the like. In this case, however, the baseboard forms a sound bridge from the floor to the wall so that the floor is no longer sound-insulated. These disadvantages are avoided by the invention, which consists in the baseboard base made particularly of plastic material, being intimately connected into the floor below the floor surface. The base of the baseboard may be of any suitable shape. For example, it may consist of a bulge of rectangular or round cross section provided at the bottom edge of the baseboard. The bulge may be of solid or hollow section. The base may consist of a leg formed from the baseboard material and positioned approximately at right-angles to the baseboard. And finally, in another embodiment of the invention, the base may consist of an extension made of a soft material (fabric), joining the bottom edge of the stiff baseboard and connected into the floor.

The special advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the baseboard is placed along with the floor covering, and that it is no longer necessary to attach the baseboard by its leg contacting the wall, as for example by means of nails or the like. Another particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that a perfectly watertight, trough-shaped floor seal is obtained with the aid of such a baseboard without the need to employ stone baseboards that would form sound bridges from the floor to the wall. A plastic baseboard, especially if it is of a somewhat flexible type, will transfer from the floor to the wall only a fraction of the sound energy transferred by firmly mounted stoneware baseboards. And finally, such baseboards are much easier to install than baseboards of known type.

The embodiment in which the base consists merely of an extension made of soft material and secured to the stiff baseboard section, offers the advantage that it adapts itself very well to the unevennesses of the surroundings, for example, of the floor finish. This ensures also that the extension on the underside and/or back adheres snugly to the floor foundation and/or wall provided with an adhesive coating so that no air bubbles form reanwardly 3,430,402 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 and/or downwardly of said extension. The soft-material extension may be attached to the back of the stiff baseboard, for example by bonding, nailing or riveting or the like. In embodiments of the invention, said extension may consist of a fabric made of natural or synthetic fibers, which can be readily cast into the floor covering, provided the latter is made of a casting compound, or which will readily connect with the adhesive used for attaching the floor covering to the floor foundation. Alternatively, the extension may consist of a plastic foil, which in this case will be appropriately provided with apertures allowing the adhesive or the casting compound employed as floor covering to pass. The foil may consist of a material connecting well with a casting compound or an adhesive used for attaching the floor covering. However, this is no sine qua non condition if the foil as mentioned before has apertures in it through which the adhesive or casting compound can pass so that even in this manner secure anchoring of the extension in the floor is accomplished. In one embodiment of the invention, the extension may alternatively be formed by having project from the lower edge of the baseboard, the layers employed to reinforce the visible portion of the baseboard, for example, reinforcing layers made of a glass fabric to strengthen the visible portion of a polyester resin baseboard projecting from the floor. Other flexible reinforcing layers for the plastic baseboard employed can also be used to form an extension at the lower edge thereof. -In this instance, it is of course unnecessary to secure the extension to the back of the baseboard, as the reinforcing layers forming the extension in this instance are held securely in the baseboard itself.

When installing the baseboard, the extension can be bent off at right-angles and placed on the foundation of the floor covering or on primer coatings of a cast-resin floor covering. Llf however, the floor covering is sufficiently thick, it is not absolutely necessary for the extension to be bent off horizontally. The soft extension will in this case depend more or less irregularly from the baseboard lower edge down and will be firmly held against the adhesive-coated rear wall and/or the floor foundation to avoid air bubbles forming back of the extension. In one embodiment of the invention, the base of the baseboard may be positioned either between the floor covering and the foundation thereof, for example, a floor finish, it being bonded to said foundation in one embodiment of the invention. If the floor covering has been cast in situ, in another embodiment of the invention, the baseboard base may be cast into the floor covering.

The baseboard may be formed of the same material as the floor covering. If the floor covering is the cast type, i.e., if it consists of a casting resin such as polyester or epoxy resin, the baseboard is equally made of a polyester or epoxy resin; preferably, said plastic material is then reinforced by glass fibre or similar layers. The baseboard may be manufactured by a laminating method known in the art. To this end, a mould may be used to which are applied first a mould parting agent, then a layer of resin and next a glass fabric, followed again by a layer of resin and next again by a reinforcing layer consisting again, for example, of glass fabric, etc., until the required baseboard thickness is attained. The resin is then cured by either a cold or a hot method. The glass fibre reinforcement may be in the form of either glass fibre web or glass fabric, which latter may also be, for example, a very coarse fabric. The height of the baseboard may vary, and so may the radius at the meeting line between the horizontal and vertical legs thereof, should this form of base be employed.

That embodiment of the invention in which the base of the baseboard consists of a leg made of baseboard material and bent oif from the baseboard, may be so constructed that at the edge of the lower, horizontal baseboard leg the reinforcing layer, for example the glass fabric, projects, without this projecting part being as a rule impregnated with plastic material. This is done in order to cause the mass of a cast floor or the adhesive used to bond the baseboard to the floor foundation to connect as intimately as possible with the baseboard at said projecting reinforcing layer.

The baseboard may be made of a coloured plastic material, or else it may be made of a colourless plastic material, for example, of the transparent type. If the baseboard is made of a colourless or transparent material, this has the advantage should it be used in conjunction with cast floor coverings, that when casting the floor covering, the vertical leg of the baseboard may equally be coated with the floor covering material so that it is given the same colour as the floor. If the baseboard is cast into the floor covering, it is advisable, first to prime the floor foundation, i.e., the floor finish or the like, with the casting compound. The baseboard is then bonded to the primer coating. In general, a second coating of casting compound is next applied and then the floor cast in place. Thus, together with the baseboard, a watertight tanking is obtained which adheres snugly to the walls of the room. Generally, the same material is used for priming and for bonding the baseboard to the primer coating. Thus, the baseboard is installed together wit-h the floor covering.

The baseboard according to the invention is suitable not only to terminate the floor against a wall, but also to define cut-outs in a fioor covering, for example, for the subsequent installation of machines or the like which are to be placed directly on the floor foundation. To this end, prior to placing the floor covering, the baseboard is bonded or otherwise fastened along the edges of the projected cutouts, whereupon the floor covering is installed. Also, bases of machines or other plant to be placed on the floor foundation before the floor covering is installed, can be lined with a baseboard of this type.

Additional features of the invention will appear from the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the appended claims and the drawing. In the individual forms of construction of the invention, the individual features may be embodied either separately or in combination.

The drawing shows embodiments of my invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a baseboard employed according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View showing a method of mounting said baseboard in conjunction with an installed floor covering.

FIG. 3 is another sectional view showing another method of mounting the baseboard in conjunction with a cast floor covering.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of a baseboard employed according to the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of still another em- 'bodiment of a baseboard employed according to the invention.

The plastic baseboard shown in FIG. 1 shows a vertically positioned leg 1 with a smooth, straight-line edge 2 and a base in the form of a horizontal leg 3. In the embodiment shown, the baseboard consists of a laminated polyester resin containing glass fabric as a reinforcement. The glass fabric 4 projects from the outer edge of the horizontal leg 3 with, as a rule, slight or no plastic impregnation. Alternatively, the baseboard may have any other cross section desired.

In the sectional view of a floor construction shown in FIG. 2, the floor ceiling 5 is covered, first, by a sound and heat insulating layer 6, on which a floor finish 7 is fioatingly placed. Said floor finish 7 carries a floor covering 8, for example, of plastic tiles, wood, parquet or the like. Secured to the floor finish 7 is the horizontal leg 3 of the baseboard, for example, by bonding. The compound used for bonding connects particularly intimately with the fabric layers 4 projecting from the lower leg 3. Once the baseboard is secured to the floor finish 7, the fioor covering 8 is installed which at the edges is placed on the horizontal leg 3 of the baseboard. The vertical leg 1 of the baseboard rests against a plaster layer 9 of a wall 10.

The floor construction according to FIG. 3 differs from that according to FIG. 2 merely by the fact that the floor covering 11 is of the type cast in situ. After priming of the floor foundation 7, the baseboard is installed along the walls and, if necessary, secured, for example, by bonding to the floor finish 7. Next the floor covering 11, for example, of the polyester or epoxy resin type, is cast in place. The cast compound connects intimately with the horizontal baseboard leg 3 generally made of the same material, a particularly intimate connection being obtained with the aid of the projecting fabric parts 4.

The vertical leg 1 need not be placed accurately at rightangles to the horizontal leg 3 of the baseboard. Rather, said angle as well as the radius at the apex thereof may vary. Possibly, the angle between the horizontal leg 3 and the vertical leg 1 may even be larger than so that the vertical leg is invariably held with a certain tension or springiness against the plaster layer 9 of the wall 10.

For the purpose of obtaining a good connection with the floor, the horizontal leg 3 of the baseboard may alternatively be provided with apertures through which adhesive or else the casting compound of a cast floor covering may pass.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the baseboard 1 has a base in the form of an extension 13 of soft material, said extension consisting in the embodiment shown of a fabric, for example, a glass fabric or glass fibre web. Said extension 13 is attached to the back of the baseboard 1 by bonding, nailing, riveting or the like. The baseboard 1 is attached to the plaster layer 9 by bonding or the like in such a manner that the lower edge 12 of the baseboard 1 either rests on the floor foundation 7 or else extends at a certain distance therefrom. The extension 13 made of ,soft material, for example fabric or the like, will then come to rest fiat on the floor foundation 7, which preferably has been coated previously either with an adhesive or, where the floor covering is of the casting type, a primer. The floor covering is then placed on the baseboard installed in this manner.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, the extension 14 is attached to the baseboard 1 similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4. In FIGURE 5, however, the extension 14 is made of a synthetic resin foil material. Additionally, as described more fully hereinabove, the extension 14 is provided with appropriately spaced apertures 15 therein.

What I claim is:

1. A floor covering arrangement, comprising:

a baseboard assembly, said baseboard assembly including a baseboard made of a synthetic resin material and a base adapted to extend at substantially right angles to said baseboard,

and a floor covering of a synthetic resin material cast in situ, said floor covering intimately engaging with the base of said baseboard assembly, said base being embedded within said cast floor covering below the upper surface thereof.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said base is made of a relatively flexible glass fabric and is affixed to said baseboard on the rear surface thereof.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said base is made of a synthetic resin foil having spaced apertures therein.

4. A combination according to claim 2, wherein said base is made of a glass fabric.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said base includes at least an angularly bent leg made of the same material as said baseboard.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said base includes, in addition to said angularly bent leg and projecting therefrom and substantially coplanar therewith, an extension having a rigidity substantially less than that of said baseboard and said angularly bent leg.

7. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said angularly bent leg forms an angle slightly greater than 90 with said baseboard.

8. A combination according to claim 5, further comprising a vertical wall for engagement with the rear surface of said baseboard, said wall having a recess of a depth slightly greater than the thickness of said baseboard, said recess extending from the base of said wall to a height slightly greater than the height of said baseboard.

9. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said synthetic resin material of said floor covering is a polyester.

10. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said synthetic resin material of said floor covering is an epoxy resin.

11. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said extension includes a continuation of reinforcing layers of said baseboard and said angularly bent leg.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein said extension is made of a glass fabric.

13. A combination according to claim 11, wherein said extension is made of a synthetic resin foil with spaced apertures therein.

14. A baseboard assembly in combination with a floor covering of a synthetic resin material cast in situ, comprising:

a baseboard made of a synthetic resin material, and a base extending at substantially right angles to said baseboard and being embedded within and below the upper surface of a floor covering cast in situ.

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein said base is made of a relatively flexible glass fabric and is affixed to said baseboard on the rear surface thereof.

16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein said base is made of a synthetic resin foil having spaced apertures therein.

17. A combination according to claim 15, wherein said base is made of a glass fabric.

18. A combination according to claim 14, wherein said base includes at least an angularly bent leg made of the same material as said baseboard.

19. A combination according to claim 18, wherein said angularly bent leg forms an angle slightly greater than with said baseboard.

20. A combination according to claim 18, wherein said base includes, in addition to said angularly bent leg and projecting therefrom and substantially coplanar therewith, an extension having a rigidity substantially less than that of said baseboard and said angularly bent leg.

21. A combination according to claim 20, wherein said extension includes a continuation of reinforcing layers of said baseboard and said angularly bent leg.

22. A combination according to claim 21, wherein said extension is made of a glass fabric.

23. A combination according to claim 21, wherein said extension is made of a synthetic :resin foil with spaced apertures therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,041,899 5/1936 Brand 52-287 2,373,317 4/1945 Lawson 5258 3,201,908 8/1965 Arnold 52255 3,093,934 6/1963 Underhill 52-309 3,229,433 1/1966 Miles 52-309 FOREIGN PATENTS 814,964 6/1959 Great Britain.

799,151 3/1936 France.

152,443 10/ 1920 Great Britain.

880,388 10/1961 Great Britain.

799,151 3/1936 France.

ALFRED G. PERHAM, Primary Examiner. JAMES L. RIDGILL, JR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 52-309, 716 

1. A FLOOR COVERING ARRANGEMENT, COMPRISING: A BASBOARD ASSEMBLY, SAID BASEBOARD ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BASEBOARD MADE OF A SYNTHETIC RESIN MATERIAL AND A BASE ADAPTED TO EXTEND AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID BASEBOARD, AND A FLOOR COVERING OF A SYNTHETIC RESIN MATERIAL CAST IN SITU, SAID FLOOR COVERING INTIMATELY ENGAGING WITH THE BASE OF SAID BASEBOARD ASSEMBLY, SAID BASE BEING EMBEDDED WITHIN SAID CAST FLOOR COVERING BELOW THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF. 